National Business

TORONTO — When Robert Prichard welcomed shareholders to Bank of Montreal’s annual general meeting on Tuesday, it was the first time the company's board chairman had done so without standing before shareholders in person.

MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway Co. hit an all-time record for March grain movement. Chief operating officer Rob Reilly says the 2.62 million tonnes of grain is a 6.1 per cent increase from 2017, the previous record for March.

OTTAWA — Canada's merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $983 million in February compared with $1.7 billion in January, as the economic impact of COVID-19 showed some of its first signs with a drop in trade with China.

TORONTO — Canadian mining companies with assets in Mexico moved to suspend operations in the country as the Mexican government ordered non-essential businesses to close in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.

Shoppers are facing empty shelves at some stores due to unprecedented demand for food and other goods even as grocers assure Canadians coping with the COVID-19 outbreak that plenty of new items are on the way and manufacturers say they have the raw m

BEIJING — Asian stocks were meandering Thursday after a White House warning that as many as 240,000 Americans might die of the coronavirus sent Wall Street tumbling and signs of the outbreak's global economic cost increased.

TORONTO — DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc. says auto sales plunged 48 per cent in March from last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

OTTAWA — Shopify Inc. says it is suspending its financial outlook for the year because of the uncertainty stemming from COVID-19.

MONTREAL — The former head of Energir will be the first woman to become chief executive of Hydro-Quebec. Sophie Brochu takes over for Eric Martel on Monday, the same day he becomes chief executive of Bombardier Inc., replacing Alain Bellemare.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (12,861.93, down 516.82 points.) TC Energy Corp. (TSX:TRP). Down $4.69, or 7.5 per cent, to $57.86 on 15.1 million shares.